Caulking compound cartridge



Oct. 12, 1965 M. E. PHILLIPS, JR 3,211,347

CAULKING COMPOUND CARTRIDGE Filed April 14, 1964 //VVE/1/ 70/? M00205 5. PH/L L A); we

5y lp @ALMWAW NEE United States Patent 3,211,347 CAULKING COMPOUND CARTRIDGE Monroe E. Phillips, Jr., 10020 Carpenter Road, Milan, Mich. Filed Apr. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 359,708 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-327) This invention relates, in general, to the packaging industry, and has particular reference to a cartridge, adapted to be pre-loaded with a caulking compound, and hence to be inserted in a caulking gun, from which the compound may then be dispensed as in conventional practice.

Heretofore it has been the practice to package such caulking compounds in cardboard, or metal cartridges, or a combination of such materials, which cartridges Were assembled of several different parts, which were held together by various means. Cartridges of this character previously known to the public have had certain inherent difficulties, one of which was the difiiculty in sealing the several parts comprising the cartridge, so that the compound could not leak from the cartridge during its storage, or during the dispensing of the compound from the caulking gun. Oftentimes the end of the cartridge which supports the reduced neck and applicator would become dislodged from the barrel of the cartridge, so that the caulking gun could not effectively dispense the compound through the neck and applicator.

Again, in devices heretofore known to the public, it is difficult to obtain a proper seal between the barrel and the large and closure member, which also serves as the plunger for forcing the caulking compound out through the reduced neck portion or applicator of the cartridge, with the result that the caulking compound leaks from the cartridge when in storage and when in use and under pressure the compound leaks out around the plunger.

It is therefore an object of this invention to obviate the foregoing difficulties and to provide a one piece, integrated, plastic cartridge which may be used in a caulking gun with absolute satisfaction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a one piece cartridge for a caulking gun, which is formed of a polyethylene plastic material, so that all of the parts are integrated, and the reduced end of the applicator is sealed with the same material, simultaneously with the formation of the barrel portion of the cartridge, whereby to eliminate the necessity of having other sealing means in the neck of the cartridge, such as a diaphragm, a removable plug, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a one piece cartridge for a caulking gun, which is provided with walls of reduced thickness in the area of the open end of the cartridge, and Walls of increased thickness beyond said area, so that a tighter seal is effected between the walls of the cartridge and the plunger, when the plunger is moved to eject the compound from the car-,

tridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a one piece plastic cartridge of the character indicated, in which the large diameter end closure member, or plunger, may be sealed in the end of the cartridge tube by preheating the closure member before insertion, and when ready to use the compound the heat seal may be broken by simply scraping or cutting the sealed edge of the cartridge to free the plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compound cartridge for a caulking gun which may be used in cold weather by simply inserting the same in hot Water before use so that the caulking compound is made pliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge 3,211,347 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 for a caulking compound gun on which the directions for use, the manufacturers name and address, or other intelligible subject matter may be directly applied to the exterior of the cartridge without the necessity of pasting on the cartridge a printed label as has been the practice heretofore. This permits the manufacturers to run off any desired quantity at any time, without the necessity of providing a supply of printed labels. This is particularly advantageous when a different label is required on each run.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caulking gun cartridge which is constructed and arranged so that the solvents of the caulking compound cannot permeate the walls of the cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caulking compound cartridge which is constructed and arranged so that it will not be affected by high humidity, or the lack of moisture in the air, which would cause the hardening of the caulking compound stored under similar conditions in a cardboard cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated cartridge for a caulking gun, which has an overall shipping weight of approximately one half of the weight of cartridges now known to the public.

A further object of the invention is to provide a caulking gun cartridge which is highly resistant to damage which might result from a heavy impact, such as dropping, and one which may be completely disposed of by burning without metal residue, such as results in attempting to dispose of such cartridges now known to the public.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken through the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cup-like member which is employed in sealing the open end of the cartridge.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed the reference character 7 indicates, in general, the cartridge embodying the invention.

The device shown in FIG. 1 is preferably formed in a plastic molding machine, which employs the principles of injection molding and blowing.

The device embodying the invention comprises a hollow cylindrical body portion 8, the lower end 9 of which is open, and the upper end 10 of which is closed by means of an end portion 11, which has rounded edges blended into the upper end of the tubular body portion 8 to form a strong juncture. The upper end portion 10 has a reduced neck extension 12, which tapers to a comparatively small end 13. The end 13 is sealed as at 14, with the same plastic material as comprises the body of the cartridge. This forms a pre-sealed, at one end, container for the reception of the caulking compound to be used in a conventional caulking gun, (not shown).

The open end 9 of the cartridge may be sealed, after it has been loaded with a caulking compound, by the insertion therein of an inverted cup-like member 15 (FIG. 4), which may be made of metal, or other suitable material. If made of metal the member 15 may be heated to a suflicient temperature to provide a very tight seal, upon its insertion into the end of the body 8.

To further the sealing properties between the Walls of the body 8 and the inverted cup-like closure member 15 (FIG. 4) when it serves as the plunger for forcing the caulking compound out of the cartridge while in the caulking gun, I reduce the wall thickness of the body member 8 near the open end 9 in the area occupied by the inverted cup-like member 15 (FIG. 4) and maintain a thicker wall throughout the remainder of the body 8. By reducing the wall thickness of the body 8 in the area of the end closure member 15, and maintaining a thicker wall above it, I provide a good seal at all times between the plunger 15, and the walls of the body 8. The seal is improved as pressure is exerted on the plunger 15 and it is moved upwardly into the body 8 and through the area where the cartridge walls are thicker. I provide an approximate wall thickness differential of about of an inch between the area where the plunger 15 originally sets and the remainder of the cartridge walls.

The caulking compound, before use, is stored in the cartridge with both ends sealed. In such condition the compound is maintained against all of the hazards indicated above. When it is desired to use a cartridge of the caulking compound, the tip of the reduced end 13 is snipped, or cut off, preferably at an angle, and the cartridge is then inserted in the caulking gun (not shown) and used as in conventional practice.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cartridge for a caulking gun comprising a hollow, mono-plastic body, having one open end and one closed end, there being an integral reduced sealed hollow, extension portion on the said closed end, in which the walls of said body have a reduced thickness in an area surrounding said open end, the inside surface of said walls uniformly sloping inwardly from said reduced thickness portion to form a thicker wall portion in the direction of said extension portion whereby to restrict the inside of the body above that area, there being a closure member in the open end of said body and normally resting in the area of said reduced wall thickness.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which there is a monoreinforced area at the juncture of the side walls of said body with the said closed end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,106,577 1/38 Sherbondy 222-541 X 2,6 5,999 8/53 Burch 222 327 X 2,695,735 11/54 Van Doornik 222386 2,724,385 11/55 Lockhart 222-386 X 2,831,483 4/58 Lorenzo 222386 X 2,831,615 4/58 Sherbondy 222-326 X 2,833,444 5/58 Sherbondy 222-326 X FOREIGN PATENTS 815,234 7/37 France.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiners. 

1. A CARTRIDGE FOR A CAULKING GUN COMPRISING A HOLLOW, MONO-PLASTIC BODY, HAVING ONE OPEN END AND ONE CLOSED END, THERE BEING AN INTEGRAL REDUCES SEALED HOLLOW, EXTENSION PORTION ON THE SAID CLOSED END, IN WHICH THE WALLS OF SAID BODY HAVE A REDUCED THICKNESS IN AN AREA SURROUNDING SAID OPEN END, THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID WALLS UNIFORMLY SLOPING INWARDLY FROM SAID REDUCED THICKNESS PORTION TO FORM A THICKER WALL PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID EXTENSION PORTION WHEREBY TO RESTRICT THE INSIDE OF THE BODY ABOVE THAT AREA, THERE BEING A CLOSURE MEMBER IN THE OPEN END OF SAID BODY AND NORMALLY RESTING IN THE AREA OF SAID REDUCED WALL THICKNESS. 